Mothers’ Union Devotion Wednesday 4th November 2020

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Psalm 27. 1a

There is a lot of fear around at the moment. Fear about our health. Fear about being trapped in our homes. Fear about loneliness. Fear about our economy. Fear about being able to hold onto the basics of life – food, shelter, safety. Fear about the mental health of the nation. Fear that this nightmare may never end.

Fear is a constant feature of our lives. Sometimes our fears are about big life-changing events such as those that we are facing at the moment. Other times, we seem to find things to be afraid of, which seem rather minor to others, but are big issues for us personally. Fear can alter our behaviour and the way we approach life. It may be that fear stops us doing the things that others seem to be doing quite comfortably. If may be that fear affects us in other ways. Affecting our eating or drinking habits, how we behave towards others or our ability to sleep.

Some fear is good and protects us from harm but sometimes our fear is out of proportion to the risk. Jesus tells us not to fear about our future because God is looking out for us at all times. That does not mean of course that we should abandon all caution and put ourselves in harms’ way expecting Jesus to rescue us. It does mean, however, that we are never facing our fears alone. Knowing that we are not alone and that there is someone there to listen to our fears helps enormously in the depths of our inner darkness when we begin to feel overwhelmed.

Sharing our worries and trusting in God’s promise to bring light and salvation into our lives can bring our fears back into proportion. Leaving us will a level of healthy caution that it is possible to live or indeed thrive with. So, share your fears with Jesus, in the daytime, when you watch the news or when you are about to leave your home. Share your fears with Jesus in the darkness of night when you cannot sleep or in the morning when cannot face getting up. Share your fears and wait. Wait and listen for the reassurance that the Lord is on your side, understanding your fears and giving you the strength to overcome them.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27.14

With all my love and prayers

Revd Sandra